Journal of Alzheimer's Disease - Volume 1, issue Pre-press

Authors: Gan, Jinghuan | Liu, Shuai | Chen, Zhichao | Yang, Yaqi | Ma, Lingyun | Meng, Qingbo | Wang, Xiao-Dan | Liu, Chunyan | Li, Xudong | Zhang, Wei | Ji, Yong

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Studies on plasma orexin-A levels in prodromal dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and the relationship with clinical manifestations are rare. Objective: To assess plasma orexin-A levels and evaluate the correlation with clinical features in patients with mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies (MCI-LB) and DLB. Methods: Plasma orexin-A levels were measured in 41 patients with MCI-LB, 53 with DLB, and 48 healthy controls (HCs). Informant-based history, neurological examinations, neuropsychological assessments, laboratory tests, and neuroimaging were collected and the correlation between orexin-A and various indicators evaluated. Results: Plasma orexin-A levels in patients with MCI-LB …(1.18±0.33 ng/mL, p  = 0.014) or DLB (1.20±0.44 ng/mL, p  = 0.011) were significantly higher than in HCs (1.02±0.32 ng/mL) and associated with gender and age. DLB patients with fluctuating cognition (FC) (1.01±0.23 versus 1.31±0.50, p  = 0.007) or parkinsonism (PARK) (0.98±0.19 versus 1.25±0.47, p  = 0.030) had significantly lower plasma orexin-A levels than subjects without FC or PARK. Plasma orexin-A levels were significantly negatively correlated with irritability and UPDRS-III scores and significantly positively correlated with disinhibition scores. Conclusion: This is the first report in which elevated plasma orexin-A levels were observed in patients with MCI-LB or DLB. In addition, lower orexin-A levels were found in patients with DLB and FC or PARK compared with HCs. The plasma orexin-A levels were associated with the presence of core features and motor and neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with MCI-LB and DLB. Show more

Keywords: Dementia with lewy bodies, fluctuation, hypocretin, mild cognitive impairment with lewy bodies, orexin, parkinsonism

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-220082

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 1, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-12, 2022